Sparking device.



PATBNTED JAN. 7, 1908;

s sums-SHEET 1.

l1 El EGM I. GVM WED BDD E HGH GNN .K0 GRM .AA BPO SM P Z. l M

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIHH Illlmllm No. 875,907. PATENTED JAN. '7,1908. B. G. GILBOUGH.

SPARKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED 13110.26. 190e.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTED JAN.'7, 1908.

B. G. GILBOUGH.

SPARKING DEVICE.

x APPLICATION FILED D110. 26. 1906.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

sa@ 52M.,

rm A mi um@ BENJAMIN G. GILBOGH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPARKNG DEVICE.

Specification of Letters'Patent.

' Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

Application and December 26.1906. serial No. 349,554.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN G. GIL- -BoUGH, a citizen of the UnitedStates, re-

siding at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Sparking Devices, of Awhich thefollowing is a specication.

My invention relates particularly to ignition devices in which thespark-plug, adapted for connection with an engine-cylinder, is providedwith a gas-actuated piston-Which serves in the actuation of the movablecontact-member, or electrode, ofthe spark-plug.

My primary object is to provide a construction adapted to prevent undueheating of the plug and one in 'which the necessary e springs employedwill be protected against undue heating and against undue deterioration,such as would come from operating under other improper conditions." yAdditional objects of 'the invention will appear from the descriptionwhich follows.

he invention is illustrated in its preferred embodiment in theaccompanyingr drawings, in Which-f v Figure l'represents an elevationalview of my improved sparking device applied to an' engine-cylinder, afragmentary sectional view of the engine-cylinder being shown;

2, a sectional view of the sparking device,- thesection being viewed inthe same direction asin Fig. 1; Fig. 3, a similar sec tion showing thegas-actuated piston of the spark-plugpartially raised; Fig. 4, asimilarsection showing the position of the parts just prior to the release ofthe electrode-actuating means from the piston; Fig. 5, a similar sectionshowing the position of the parts immekdiately after the release of theelectrodeactuating means from the piston, while the .pistonis at theextreme outer end of its f traverse; Fig. 6, a plan view of the device;`Fig. 7, a perspectwe view of a springequipped pistoneretractinrock-arm; and

Fi 8, a ,broken section'ta en as indicatedat' ine 8 of Fig. 5. l

In the construction shown, A represents an engine-cylinder; B, a tubularplug having 'screw connection with the engine-cylinder, and having atubular stem extending into the "enginecylinder and' equipped withapoint b1, thereby constituting a iixed electrode; B1` avibrator'electrode extendin y Y g Vthroughthe bore b2 of the tubular plug andhaving its outer end projectingbeyond the -cA extending through theouter end-cap c2 of said cylinder; D, a standard supported on the diskC. opposite the cylinder O1 and separated from said cylinder by a spaceD1 in o which the outer end of the vibratory electrode B1 extends D2, arock-arm supported on the standard D and equipped with an adjustableelectrode-actuating member D3; D, -a pawl connected with the free end ofthe rock-arm D2 and serving in the actuation of the same; and D5, alever having a pivotal portion d passing through the standard D andpivotally supporting the rock-arm D2, and havin an arm d1 atsubstantially right angles 4to t e pivotal portion d and equipped with alaterally projecting arm d2 bearing. against'the outer end offthepiston-stem c1.

The disk C is provided with an opening c3 through lwhich the vibratoryelectrode B? rejects and at saidopening at the inner sur- ?ace of thedisk'is rovided a part-spherical seat or bearing c4 W lch receives apart-spherical bearing a? with which the vibratory electrode'isfprovided, said electrode having a stem cG extending through theopening c3 and into the s ace D1 between the standard D and the cy inderC1.' The stem c is provided With a stud c7 between which and the disk Cis confined a coil-spring vcB which encirclcs the stem c, the springserving to hold the bearing c5 in close contact with the scat c4. The

.lipper end of the stem cs is formed with a cam-surface cf and projectsthrough a slotc10 1n themember D3.

in an open position, as shown in Fig. v2,

The member D3 is clampinfrly secured to the lower surface of the arm bya bolt da. which extends tluough a perforation in the arm d2 and througha slot d" in the member D3, thus permitting adjustment oi' themember D3laterally with relation to the stem c of the vibratory electrode B1. D3is provided with an inturned arm d5 between'which and the stem c isconfined a leaf sprinor df. The standardy D is bifurcated, affording aslot in Which the pivotal end of l One wall c. of said slot -coacts Withthe cam-surface c, serving tofmaintain the vibrator-y electrode normallyvloo The member the pavvl (end toward the engine-cylinder) the rock-armD2 is received, and in Which the member D3 and the spring d6 arereceived. The free end of the rock-arm D2 is provided with a shoulder(Z7 which rests normally against the outer surface of the end-cap c2 ofthe cylinder C1. The stem c of the vibratory electrode is provided witha series of notches d which serve for adjustment of the spring d".Thespring d tends not'only to hold the vibratory electrode in the closedCondition shown in Fig. 3, but tends also to depress the inner end ofthe rock-arm D2 to the normal position of rest yshovvn in Fig-2-v ThepaWl D4 is received by a slotrdD with Which the rock-arm Dzis provided,and is supported on a pivot d10'. The inner end 'o'f 1s provided with aslightly curved surface d which coacts with a art-sphericalgsurfacelci)of the stem fof. the The outer end 'of' the aWl D4 is connected by aspring Z13 With la (i12 With Which the en piston C2 is provided.

ug d carried by the rock-armlDf.- The arm d2 of the lever D5 bearsagainst one lateral edge of vthe pawl D4, serving tov limitrthe turningmovement of the pawl on-its pi/vot. Said lateral .edge of the awl iscurved as indicated at'al15 to permit t fe parts to assu-me. Y,

' the relative position shown in Fig. 5.

surface cl3'.

The outer end of the piston q1CZ is provided with a tapering, orfrusto-conical, surface c, and the inner surface of theend-cap 'c2 isprovided at the perforation through which the stem c1 proects, With acoacting'conical W ien the piston is att e outer vfend ofits traverse,the conical surfaces are brought together,` as :illustrated 'inlFig 5,

thereby tendine to'preventescape of gas.

The port c may be varied by means of avalve cm 'Whose stem cF has screwconnection with the disk C, said stem rejecting laterally beyond theedge of the' `sk, the projecting end being equipped With an operatingWheel c. The arm d1 of the lever Diis connected by a" spring E with alug e carried by the disk C;

Said arm d1 is provided with a' series of notches e1, and the outer endof the spring E has a hook adapted to engage any one of 'said notches,thus providing for a variation of the pressure exerted `upon Vthe pistonthrough the medium of the lever D5.- I have 'shown an oiling device Fconnectedfwith the cylinder C1'.

A battery G in a circuit Gl servesto produce a primaryA spark. Oneterminal. of the circuit is connected with the standard D by a deviceG2, and anotherterminal of the circuit isA connected with theengine-cylinder `and thus with the tubular pluO B.. The circuit iscompleted, of course, when the vibratory'electrode is in contact withthe stationary electrode.

The' disk C is shown separated from the plug B by insulating material h,and the disk 1s -connected'with t e head of the plug B by leap c2.

evaso? meansv of bolts lil-Which, pass through insulating Washers andsleeves h2, as shown inFig.

'8. The details of connection are unimportant.

f From the'foregoing'description,theoperaf tion of the device will bereadily understood.

The parts'of the device are normally :in the position showninligs. -1and 2, with the vi,- bratory electrode separated from the stationaryelectrode and the electric circuit broken. 7When the "compression in theengine-cylinder .reaches la predetermined amount, the piston C2 is moved-bygas passing through the port c and overcoming the tension of thespring E1.

Normally, the pav'vl D4 rests upon the outer 'end cfth'e piston-stemec1, andas the piston is forced outwardly, the rock-arm D2 is raisedthrough the medium of said pawl, thereby withdrawing the shoulder enfrom 4the prominent portionof the cam c and permitting the spring' d B1a`nd close the circuit. When the piston reaches the Vouter end of itstraverse the pawl 'DKWh'ose' movement is restrained` by thevleveriyslips off the end of the piston stem yc`1`,tl1us permitting therock-arm D2 to drop toits original position with the shoulder d? on .theouter surface of the cylinderln the return movement of the rockarm D,the shoulder c working on the cam c, actuates 'the vibratory electrodeto break the circuit and cause a spark. By means of resti'n the manuallyadjustable valve C14, the passage of gas to the cylinder C1 may beregulated, so that only a suflicient amount of gas `need bel admitted toserve in the'actuation of the piston, whereby undue heating of the parts-may` be obviated. Moreover, th'e springs employed in the constructionare everywhere exposed to the atmosphere, reducing the tendency ofinjury to the springs. Furthermore, the springs are so arranged that themovements are slight, so that not# withstanding the large number ofoperations `which the device is called upon to perform, the life ofthesprings is long. I preferably provide the stem of the piston with aperfoto actuate the vibratory electrode ration 'c wher-eat animplementmay be in- 4 serted for the purpose of loosening the piston in the eventthat it may become necessary afterlong idlenessof the device. y

4It may be remarked that inasmuch as a primary circuit is employed forproducing a spark in a device of this character, 'a small current Willserve to produce a large spark, though of- 'loW potential. inasmuch asthe volume of the spark is the desirable thing, is obvious that sparkingdevices of the character hereindisclosed possess .an important advantageoversparking devices employing an induced current to create the spark.

QMOreOver, theirnproved device ma be em# ployed Without use of a cam forma ing and reaking the circuit externally, thus obvi'ating the many.objectionsincident to the use oritA `'.l`he..foregoing detaileddescription khas been given for clearness of understanding only, and noundue limitation is to be understood therefrom. 1-

That I regard as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, isvl 1`.Ina sparking-device, the combination of a tubular plug adapted forconnection with an engine-cylinder, a cylinder mounted thereon and incommunication ivith "said lug, a piston movable in saidcyli-nder andavmg a stem projecting beyond 'the'outer end of the cylinder, avibratory electrode extending into'said tubular plug, an actuatingmember' for said vibratory electrode, and a awl connected with saidactuating member ocated in the pathof the iston-stem, Whereby the pistonserves uring -its' outward movement to move said actuating memberthrough the Vmedium of said pawl, the pawl being so arranged withrelation t'o the pistonstem as to be released to ermit said actuatingmember to return to. its normal position when the piston reaches theouter end of its traverse.

2. The combination of a tubular 'plug adapted for connection With anengine-cylinder and serving as a fixed electrode, a cylinder mounted onsaid plug and having its inner end in communication With the interiorthereof, a piston in Said cylinder having a stem rejecting beyond theouter end of the cylin er, a vibratny-nelectrode extending into saidplug, a pivotedv rock-arm serving to actuate said electrode, aspring-held pawl mounted on said rock-arm 'and normally located in thepath of the piston-stem, and means for limiting the movement of saidpawl under the action of its spring, whereby the paWl is released fromthe piston-stem as the piston reaches theouterend of its traverse, forthe purpose set fort 3. The combination of a tubular plug adapted forconnection with an engine-cylinder andconstituting a'ixed'electrode, acylinder mounted upon said plug and in communication with the interlorthereof, a piston movable-in said cylinder having a stem projectingbeyond thevouter end of the cylin- 'ldera vibratory'electrodeeXtendnginto the tubular plug, a rock-arm serving to actuate saidelectrode inone. direction, yielding means tending normally to closelthe vibratory4 electrode and to hold said rock-arm in its normalposition'of rest, a pavvl connected with said rock-arm and locatednormally in the path `of the piston-stem, and afsprin-g-A held leverhaving a bearing on the pistonstem and tending to hold ,the piston atr.the inner endl of its traverse.

' 4. The combination of a 'tubular plug adapted for connection withanengine-cylim' outer end of the cylinder, a vibratory elec- ,end ofwith. the interior thereof,va piston in said cylinder having a stemprojecting beyond the trode extending into said plug, an actuatingmember for said vibratory electrode, spring connection between saidactuating member andv said vibratory electrode tending normallyto movethe electrode to the closed po- .sition and to move saidy actuatingmemberto its normal position of rest, a spring-held awl .mounted on saidactuating member ani 'located .normally the ath of the pi'ston-v stem,and a spring-held)member having a bearingon, the outerend. of thepiston-stein and'tending to holdthe piston at the inner end of itstraverse. 5. The combination of adapted for connection with anengine-cylinder and constituting a fixed electrode, a disk insulatinglymountedv on said plug `and hav--v ing a perforation therein, a vibratoryelec-- trode extending through said: erforation, a cylinder mountedonlsaid disk aving its inner end incominunica'ption With the interior ofsaid tubular plug, a piston in said cylinder I having a stem projectingbeyond ytlfiaouter I the cylinder, a standard mounted on said Adiskopposite said cylinder, a rock-arm pivoted on said standard and havingcam connection with said vibratoryv eleetrode, a spring-held pawl ivotedon saidv rock-arm and located norma ly in-the path of said pis-rton-stem, and a spring-held member having' a bearing on the piston-stemand tending to hold the iston at the inner end of its traverse, for tliepurpose set forth,

6. The combination with a tubular plug adapted for connection with anengine-cylinderandconstituting aiXed electrode, a disk insulatinglymounted on said plug and equipped with a cylinder having its inner endin communication with the interior of said plug, a iston in saidlast-named cylinder equippe( with a piston stem, a vibratory electrodeextending through said disk, ,a rock-arm support "opposite saidcylinder,a rock-arm pivoted onsaid support and having spring connection and camconnection with. the outer end ,of said vibratory electrode, aspring-held pawliniounted on said rock-arm and locate( normally in thepath of the pis'- ton-stem, and asprmg-held memberhaving a bearing onthe piston-stem and tending to a tubular plugV erse. ,17. Thecombination with atubular plug adapted for connection with anengine-cylinder and constituting-a fixed electrode, 4of aT 125 cylindermounted thereon and 'having its inner -end .1n-,communication with theinterior thereof, a piston mounted in said cylinder, a

vibratory electrode located at one side of said cylinder and extendinginto said plug, a sup- 130v sol hold the piston at the inner end of itstray-l cylinder mounted thereon and in communiport onxthe other side ofsaid vibratory elec trede, a rock-arm pivoted on said support and havingcam connectlonwith the outer end oi said vibratory electrode, meanstend- `ing to move the vibratory electrode to the vibratory electrode tonove to the closed position, said pawl adapted to be released as thepiston nears theouter end oi' its traverse, *and4 a spring servingtojreturn the pist-onto the inner end of its traverse.

8. The combination oi a tubular plug, a cylinder mounted thereon and incommunication with the interior thereof, a vibratory electrode extendinginto the plug'and having its outer end provided with a cam-surface, apivotedrock-arm, an adjustable member carried thereby and serving toengage said tcam,- surface, yielding means tending to move'saidvibratory electrode to the closed position and to maintainvsaid rock-armin its normal position of rest, and a spring-held pawl mounted on saidrock-arm andadapted to be actuated by the piston and thereby actuatesaid rockarm, for the purpose set forth. j

9. The combination oi a tubular plug, a

cation with the interior thereof, a' piston movable in said cylinder, avibratory elec-V trode extending'into said plug and equipped at itsouter'end with a cam-surface, a pivoted rock-arm, an adjustable membercarried thereby and coacting with said cam-surface,

va spring connecting said adjustablemember with saidvibratoryelectrode,`a s ring-'heldv pawl carried bysaid rock-arm and adapted tobe actuated by the piston, and aspring tending to hold the piston at theinner end of v its traverse.

10. The combination of' a tubular plug, a

disk insulatingiy mounted thereon and equipped near one edge with acylinder and near the opposite edge with a standard, 'a pis- ',ton insaid cylinder having a stem projecting beyond the outer end of thecylinder, a vibratory electrode extending through said disk and intosaid plug, a spring-held lever having v' a bearing on said plug andhaving apivotal portion journaled in said standard, a rockarm supportedon the pivotal. portion of said lever and havingcam connection ,withsaid 'vibratory electrode, and a spring-held pawl mounted on saidrock-arm and located normally in the path of the piston-stem.

, 1-1. The combination or a tubular plug, a disk mounted thereon fequipped near one sar the o posite i in saif cylinedge with a standard,a der having a stem proj oi the" cylinder, a vih rode extendingthroughsaid dish;

the cyiinder said standardg, and serving as a bearing for l disk.insulatingly mounted thereon and of saidcyl1nder,.` a spring connectingsaid equipped Witha cylinder Whose' inner end is in connected With thevibratory electrode and cylinder, a cylinder mounted thereon havingactuated spring-retracted electrode-actuating h vond the end .Slew

vand standard, a rock-arm serving to actuate the vibratory electrode,y aspring-held pawl mounted on said rock-arm, and a spring-held leverhaving a pivotal portion journaled in 7 0 said rock-arm, vsaid leverhaving an arm bearing upon the ,piston-stem and affording a stop forsaid pavvl. y

12. 'The combination of a tubular plug, a

'equipped near' one edge with a cylinder and 75 near the opposite edgewith a standard, a piston in said cylinder'having a stem projectingbeyondthe outer end of the cylinder, a vibrator electrode 'extendingthrough said disk andI having its'outerend located between said cylinderandv standard, a rock-arm having camconnection with said vibratoryelectrode and bearing normally against the outer end rock-arm With 'saidvibratory electrode, a l pawl pivted on said rock-arm and locatedvnormally in the path ofthe piston-stem, a springconnecting said pawlwith lsaid rockarm, and a spring-held lever having a pivotal portionjournaledinsaid standard and aiording a support forsaid rock-armandhaving another portion bearing upon theV outer end of ,the iston-stemand atfordjngastop for said aw Y, l 95 13. Thel combination with atubular plug adapted for connection "With' an' engine-cylinder andconstituting a fixed electrode, of a member insulatingly mounted.thereon communication v'ith the interior of said plug, a piston in saidcylinder, a 'vibratory electrode extending through said member andhaving a bearing in said member, a spring serving t'o maintain a closejoint at said bearing, and piston-actuated electrode-actuating means,-for the urpose set forth.

.14. The com ination of a tubular plug adapted Jfor connection with anengine-l 110 cylinder, a cylinder mounted thereon having' Y i a port incommunication Iwith the interior 'of said lug, means for' regulating thepassa e of gas vft rough sa'd port, a movable electro e extending intotlhe plug, and gas-actuated electrode-actuating means, for the purpose.set forth. f 1.5. The `combination oa tubular plug adapted forconnection with an engineafport in communication with the interior ofsaid plug, means for regulating the passage of gas through said port, amovable electrode extending into the plug, and gas- 125 means, for theurpose set forth.

, 16. in a devlce of the characterset forth,

the conibinationvof a tubular-plugy adapted .for connection with'anengine-ylinder, a member carried thereby Broyided `with a'. 130vnearing, a vibratory electrode extendin through said member and intoAthe kplug an having-"a -coacting bearing, a spring outside ofsaid'member and connected with the vibratory electrode and serving tomaintainy a close joint, and ,gas-actuated means coacting with the outerend of the vibratory electrode and serving to actuate said' electrode. rl

17. In a device of the character set forth, the combination of' a plugadapted for connection with an ezgine-cylinder, a cylinder carriedthereby an communicating through the plug with the engine-cylinder, apiston movable in said cylinder,1-a movable electrode, a s rin trode tot e 4c osed osition, a cam holding said electrode norma ly in the openposition,

- and releasable piston-actuated means serving in the outward movementof the piston to move said cam and permit the spring to move saidelectrode tothe closed position and serving also, upon release from thepiston,to return the cam to the normal osition andv thereby return theelectrode to t e open position. 'v

18. In a device-of the character set forth, the combination of a plugadapted for connection with an engine-cylinder, a c linder carriedthereby and communicating t rough the plug with the en ine-cylinder, apiston movable in said cylin er, a spring-held 'mov'- able electrodetendin to move to the closed position, and releasab e spring-heldelectrode tending to move said elec-v release said Ielectrode from itsrestraint to permit it to move to the closed position and saidelectrode-actuating means serving, u on release from the piston, toreturn the e ectrode to the open position against the'action of its sring.

19. na device of the character set forth, the combination of a plugadapted for connectionwith' an engine-cylinder, a movable electrode, a clinder communicating through the plug the engine-cylinder, gas-actuatedelectrode-actuating means in said cylinder, and an adjustablevalvecontrolling thepassafge from" the' engineecylinder to said secon -namedcylinder.

20. The combination of a plug adapted for connection with anengine,cylinder, a cylinder carried vthereby and communicating With theengine-cylinder, a piston having a stem projecting through the -outerend of said cylinder,` a valve-seat in the cylinder, a coactingvalve-surface on the piston, a movable electrode, andelectrode-actuating means actuated by the piston-stem, for the purposeset forth.

BENJAMIN G. GILBOUGH.

In the resence of* J. LANDES, C. W. WAsHBoURNE.

